News

Raine Turnbull at Hillfire while filming for the video. Tyson Jones-Peni photo.

Some might say the most anticipated section from the video, even though no-one knew that there was going to be a trail section. But hey, this is the Back Bone video.. there was always going to be a trail section. Featuring all kinds of heads from Australia and across the world. We're really proud to have had this opportunity to showcase some of the best trail builders and riders the underground has to offer in our video.. Trail builders inspire us to do what we do at the shop and this section is in many ways a thank you to those who keep the flame lit. 

Filmed and edited by Brendan Boeck with additional filming from the crew. Special thanks to Jared Carter for most of the overseas footage.

The big dog. Rhysty opened the shop in 2005 and it has been keeping the flame lit for 12 years. His passion for BMX and building trails has gone on for 30+ years and that passion flowed on to opening the store, as well as travelling the world to visit different trail spots.

His section in the video reflects that, visiting trails in West Australia, to Eastern Pennsylvania, to his backyard and his trail spot, Hillfire, in Canberra.

When we came up with the plan to film a video, Rhysty was 36 years old. Being 36 years old and filming your first video part was a little daunting for Rhys, but he came through with exactly what it needed to be - a reflection of his lifestyle. Rhysty at the trails, riding smooth as you'd like.

Filmed and edited by Brendan Boeck with additional filming from the crew.

Before we round the corner into the second half of the video tomorrow, we thought we'd start to get the sections to the video in order. For those that don't own our video, this is a chance to get a feel for the way the video sits as a cohesive piece. Sitting down and watching a BMX video is an experience. It feels different. You give it more attention - you can appreciate the way certain sections and songs move into the next.

When the video was being pieced together, we, with Brendan, spoke in depth about the way the video would start, what sections would go where, as well as how it would feel with the rider's song moving into the next section. It was important to us that the video didn't get too overshadowed with one type of riding, or one type of music, as it played through.

So, have another play through - we'll be adding sections to the playlist as it happens.

Jack Gruber, the young gun. When we first got together and started talking about the idea of filming for a video, a young 15 year old Jack Gruber was on the Royal Rat squad and asked if he would have a full part. We said to him 'we're not sure, but start by filming and we'll see.' Jack started filming, kept filming, and pretty soon it became apparent that he would have his own part. His dedication to the whole process is what made Jack get bumped up to the team and put on the Odyssey Australian team - his part speaks volumes. The young gun did good. Jack rips and we couldn't be more stoked to have him a part of the team and the video.

Filmed and expertly edited by Brendan Boeck with additional filming by the crew, with the song coming from one of the best Canberra band you've never heard of (yet!), TV Colours. Go buy their music now.

Above: Van Homan, rail fufanu at the banks. Screenshot taken from 'the best video part of all time' - Criminal Mischief. The video came out in 2001, which puts this clip at 16+ years old.

This post is something that is almost too weird to comprehend - if you don't ride BMX that is. How a small, steep, banked piece of concrete with a railing on top can be so revered.. especially when it sits within a housing complex that most citizens wouldn't dare step foot in (unless you happen to be one of those citizens who is trying to score hard drugs). 

The fact is, that the bank setup at Bega flats has played a big part in BMX for almost two decades and as of right now, thanks to city development and gentrification, has been demolished and is no longer.

BMX riders from Canberra and afar have found themselves here at the Bega flats banks at some point, as the spot sits across the road from the city skatepark and you can't help but see it as you're sitting on the deck of the mini ramp. Most of the time you're pretty quickly greeted by irrate junkies and a bad vibe, so many Canberrans don't count this as a go-to for a session, but nevertheless, locals like Pete Majoinen, Michael Puniard and Zac Miner (among others) have stamped their mark on the spot over the years.

Zac Miner in Troy Charlesworth's Epic Invasion video.

For travelling BMXers eager to film, the Bega flats bank been host to some of the greatest to ever do it. Mike Aitken, Dennis Enarson, Ronnie Napolitan, Josh Harrington - as well as Van Homan scoring two clips at the bank for his Criminal Mischief section (AKA the best section of all time).  

Dennis Enarson, overpedal to barspin in the Haro Australia video in 2010.

Mike Aitken, pegless icepick to fakie from Sentenced to Life.

The Bega flats complex have been torn apart in the last few weeks and it was only a matter of time until the bank itself was going to be no more, so Jack O'Reilly and I made it a point to get in there, shoot some photos and take one last ride on Sunday. It was a strange experience, it's the quietest it's ever been in there riding the spot and to be honest, probably the longest I've ever been there. While the trick we shot was far from the most progressive, it is a crazy feeling to look at it even just days later and know that it will be impossible to do that again.

The demolition of the Bega Flats bank is a reminder of just how good the experience of searching and riding spots is; find it while you can, ride it while you can, take nothing for granted and enjoy the memory.

- Tyson 

The bank as it stood on Sunday 25/6/17. No rails and no sub-rail.

The banks, this morning.

Downside whip, last time ever. Jack O'Reilly photo.

Where to start with this one! We always knew that the video was going have one hell of a mix section in it, full of our mates and those who have supported Back Bone since day one. In fact, a lot of the crew within this mix section we know from them first having set foot in the shop, to becoming our friends.

There are too many legendary people in this one section to list, so you're just going to have to watch it over and over to see for yourself.

Oh, lastly (but certainly not least!), B-Dog gets in front of the camera in this section and puts down some rad as hell clips. As well as making the best video ever (according to us), B-Dog throws down in front of the lens as well.

Press play, now!

Pool hanging with Trent Rowsell. James Fox photo.

Benn Pigot is an Australian BMX legend and has been a supporter/team rider of the shop since damn near the beginning.. Not to mention one of our closest friends. Benn rips anything he rides with a casualness that just looks so good, which makes sense, because it reflects his casual, chilled demeanour off the bike. We are so stoked to have a full section of Benn in the video, and now we can bring it to you online, as well as gracing you with some of Benn's favourite things in this top 5, complete with epic shots from James Fox.   

Places on the bike:

• Five Dock
• Nimbin
• Wellington
• A good chill pool
• Málaga (all of it)

While Bondi doesn't technically make Benn's top 5 places on the bike, the deep end, pool coping and the ocean right next to it - it certainly contains elements of his favourite places. Big pocket air in the deep. James Fox Photo.

Places off the bike:

• Berry Springs, NT
• Málaga, Spain
• Bydalen, Sweden
• Encasa 
• Guzman y Gomez

Just look at that pool! And that table! While it looks like a dream pool to ride (judging by the blasted table Benn is folded into), what makes it so sick is that Benn found and cleaned this pool for hours with his mate Trent before laying tires on it. James Fox photo.

Music to ride to:

• Postmortem - Slayer
• The Number 12 Looks Like You - Category 
• Lil Gin - Demons in my soul 
• La Chat - Luv 2 Get High
• Faith No More - Woodpecker from Mars

Music to hang to:

• Da End - Gangsta Blac 
• Ab Soul - Pass the Blunt
• Ween - Buckingham Green
• Ween - Mister Would You Please Help My Pony
• Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan - Stone Cold Dead In the Market 

Benn on home ground. If you haven't sessioned with Benn at Five Dock, notch that up something you must do. James Fox photo.

Bike parts:

• Solid headsets when they existed
• Izumi chains
• Fly Ruben Pedals, metal
• Fit Hartbreaker  
• My trusty railed Backbone seat

Tricks:

• Tables
• Slides/skids of all sorts
• Kick outs 
• Turndowns 
• There's no way I could do it, but I love seeing a good Derek Duster. 

Jeez. Soulful, stylin', all time tireslide from Benn. James Fox photo. 

Riders:

• Mike Aitken 
• Joe Rich 
• Ruben Alcantara 
• Trent Rowsell 
• Dylan Lewis 

BMX memories:

• When Aitken and company came to Bondi. 
• Ever getting to see Dane Searls ride anything. 
• New Years trip 2 years ago when I was lucky to hit Plumbus Dam and the big ass full pipe. 
• A trip Trent Rowsell and I did late November last year to Málaga, had the chance to ride some crazy places with amazing people. 
• At a Five Dock Jam, I saw Danny Stevenson do the biggest turndown over the spine I've ever seen.

What a way to rip into a Tuesday arvo.. We're psyched to put Harti's section online for everyone to see. Chris put in serious work to make his section happen, not only in terms of riding, but spending a bunch of time building one of the most serious trail spots ever with Raine Turnbull. If you don't see Harti around the parks, it's because he is at the trails. But don't let that fool you, Chris has shut down multiple lines at the parks too. If you've ever been to Belco or Civic parks, you'll know that what he does at these parks in the video is ridiculous.

Sit back and watch the Hartbreaker himself, then go chuck on a Rat crewneck and join the crew!

Contemplating the gnarliness.. Raine Turnbull photo.

While it was our intention to upload each section of the video in order, we just couldn't resist uploading Zac Miner's EPIC section today, on his 30th birthday! Zac went all in for his section, almost every single one of his clips were pure nail biting, hands over the face, two zeros dialled with your phone out ready to hit the third zero, type gnarly. In fact I'm still not sure the last clip even qualifies as a spot. It's just too gnarly to look at as an actual thing you can do on a bike. Regardless, Zac lived to tell the tale, as well as many others and what you see below is epicness in BMX riding, all expertly put together by Brendan Boeck (as well as the rest of the video).. And that soundtrack - you'll want to turn it up, you'll have goosebumps.

Thanks for being a absolutely legendary dude on the bike and even more so off the bike Zac, you are a do-er in BMX who builds spots, helps with jams, and you walk your own path. Happy birthday mate! 

Now what are you doing, hit play!

Zac ripping, as usual! Tyson JP photo